Chimney Liners

Chimney Liners: A Simple Fix for a Host of Fireplace and Chimney Problems in Lac La Belle

Yearly chimney and fireplace inspections do more than keep your Lac La Belle fireplace burning well. They also find potential safety or structural risks … before they become dangerous.

A fairly common revelation during inspections of masonry chimneys is the identification of cracked or damaged clay flue tiles. These tiles line the interior vertical channel that carries smoke up and out. The damage is usually from sudden temperature changes the tiles endure. When fires are started, a blast of heat warms cold tiles very quickly. Over time, the interaction takes a toll.

Cracks in the tiles, even minor ones, can allow smoke and gases into the chimney cavity and, potentially, the Lac La Belle home. The problem can’t be overlooked.

Luckily, a cost-effective option exists to replacing or reconstructing damaged flue tiles: a stainless steel chimney liner. Butler Chimneys, the top chimney sweep company in Lac La Belle, has installed hundreds of liners in the local area.

Attached to the upper opening of a fireplace, a chimney flue liner is essentially a round tube running the length of the chimney. It carries smoke and gases all the way to the chimney cap, where they are vented outside. 

Chimney liner installation is normally a one-day project for Butler Chimneys. Flue tiles inside the chimney are broken out. The stainless liner for chimneys is lowered from the cap, and attached to the fireplace piping.

A new flue liner has a lifetime warranty, normally on condition that the fireplace and chimney are inspected annually. It’s a true “out of sight, out of mind” fix to a variety of other fireplace issues that can arise - potentially necessitating far more expensive repairs.

How do you know when a chimney liner might be needed? A clue is spotting efflorescence – a buildup of white, chalky powder – on a chimney’s exterior.

This indicator usually appears when an appliance(s) – such as a furnace or water heater – vents into the chimney. If flue tiles are cracked or damaged, moisture and gases from the appliance(s) can escape into the chimney cavity. They slowly eat away the chimney’s masonry. Efflorescence appears outside as bricks and mortar deteriorate.

If you notice efflorescence, the smart move is to contact Butler Chimneys without hesitation. Once a chimney structure deteriorates to a certain point, remedies get far more complicated (and costly).

Chimneys might appear simple. Truth is, they contain vital systems that depend on a sound surrounding structure to function properly. A slight malfunction can put life and home in peril. A chimney liner can fix the issues – and line up your Lac La Belle home for better days ahead.